ASSEMBLY, No. 2218

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED JUNE 27, 1996

By Assemblymen AZZOLINA, GEIST, Carroll, Malone, Cohen, Corodemus, Rocco, Roma, Dalton, Blee and Assemblywoman J. Smith

An Act concerning certain students at New Jersey institutions of higher education and supplementing chapter 62 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. A student who is a member of the New Jersey National Guard or of the Reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States, and who is unable to complete a course or courses at a New Jersey institution of higher education because the student is called to partial or full mobilization for State or federal active duty, shall be entitled to receive a grade in each course for which the student has completed a minimum of eight weeks' attendance and all other academic requirements during that period. The grade shall be based upon the work which the student had completed up to the time when the student was called to active service.

    2. Any student who has not completed a minimum of eight weeks' attendance and all other academic requirements during that period in a course or who does not wish to receive a grade on the basis provided for in section 1 of this act shall be entitled to receive: a. a grade of incomplete in that course which shall remain valid for a period of one year after the date on which the student returns to study at the institution; b. a grade of pass/fail in that course; or c. a refund of tuition and fees for that course.

    3. Any student who has paid room, board, or other fees to the institution shall be entitled to a refund of the portion of those charges attributable to the time period in which the facilities or services were not used by the student.

    4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to the 1995-96 academic year and thereafter.

STATEMENT

    This bill provides that students who are members of the New Jersey National Guard or of the Reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States who are called to partial or full mobilization for State or federal active duty while attending a New Jersey institution of higher education are entitled to certain options for course credit or fee refunds. Students who have been in attendance for a minimum of eight weeks shall be entitled to receive a grade in each course based upon the work completed up to the time of active service. Students who have not completed a minimum of eight weeks or do not wish to receive a grade are entitled to receive a grade of incomplete which shall remain valid for one year; a grade of pass/fail; or a refund of tuition and fees. Students who have paid room and board or other fees shall be entitled to a refund based on the amount of time the facilities or services remained unused by the student.

Establishes certain rights for students attending New Jersey institutions of higher education who are mobilized for State or federal active duty.